Virgil van Dijk 's "bad situation" has left his career at Southampton irreparable, according to Peter Odemwingie, who sympathised with the defender's desire to join Liverpool .

The Reds thought they had taken an important step on the road to signing the Saints centre-back last month, only to see the south-coast club threaten to complain about an alleged 'tapping up'.

Liverpool were forced to offer an apology and immediately dropped their interest in Van Dijk, before the Dutchman told Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino of his intentions to leave St Mary's last week.

Van Dijk has been training alone at Southampton (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)

The former Stoke and West Brom striker said: "I don’t think it’ll ever be the same for a player who is going through that situation. It’s a bad situation for both the player at the club because if he stays, he’s never going to be the same.

"He won’t play the same way and fans will be upset, sometimes just one word from a fan will remind you about what happened in the summer and it can put you off completely, for a whole week or even a whole month.

Peter Odemwingie of Stoke City battles with Brendan Galloway during the Barclays Asia Trophyi n July 2015

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"I can understand Van Dijk’s point of view. This situation will be difficult for him, there are big clubs going after him. Southampton is a good club with great fans, but it’s absolutely understandable that he wants to make the best of his career.

"You get more respect if you play at the top clubs and if you challenge for European titles."

Speaking last week about Van Dijk, Pellegrino revealed that the £60m-rated centre-back was training alone after informing his manager of his desire to move.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Virgil van Dijk of Southampton looks on prior to the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton at Selhurst Park on December 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

"The boy said that he is not available to play because he wants to leave," Southampton boss Pellegrino said.

"This is the decision. I had to say 'if you don’t want to be involved because you don’t feel OK then you have to train alone until this period of time happens'".